Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams told reporters Friday that he received his third set of cortisone shots in both of his ankles Thursday and said he’ll probably receive another set before the playoffs begin.
Williams received his first set of cortisone shots prior to the start of the season in late October and received his second set in late December. Williams and the team had previously not disclosed the second set until Friday.
Even though rest is the cure, Williams said he doesn’t want to shut it down.
“I’ve gotten frustrated some nights where I can’t do anything, can’t go anywhere, and it’s frustrating and that’s how you want to think, but I can’t do that,” Williams said.
He said his ankles have been bothering him since before the Olympics, but he injured them significantly during his second day of training camp with the U.S. men’s basketball team, when he was supposedly “out of shape.”
Williams used air quotes when he said “out of shape” during his availability with reporters after Friday’s practice, likely in reference to U.S. men’s basketball president Jerry Colangelo’s comment about him “being a little overweight.”
Asked if he’s in great shape now, Williams responded, “I was in great shape then too. You can ask anybody.”
He said his left ankle is more injured than his right ankle.
Williams got his first cortisone shot to ease the inflammation in his left ankle, which was caused by a bone spur. The next day, he got another cortisone shot in his right ankle.
Williams doesn’t think the bone spur is what’s bothering him now.
“The problem was I haven’t had a break in a long time,” Williams said. “I was doing plyometrics, box jumps this summer for the first time. I lifted heavier than I’ve ever lifted, and so I think all the wear and tear is what’s caused the inflammation, and I haven’t had a break to get it out. It’s just gotten worse and worse. It didn’t feel as bad because I wasn’t playing back-to-backs and four in five nights, then we got to the season. It just kept getting worse and worse because you have less and less rest.”
Williams said playing in back-to-backs “has been really hard for me this year.”
Despite being hampered by his ankles due to constant inflammation, Williams missed just the two games prior to the All-Star break as a result. He missed a third game Dec. 26 due to a bruised right wrist. He has also been bothered by quadriceps and shoulder discomfort this season.
Williams underwent platelet-rich plasma therapy Feb. 11 and took a week off to rest. He has since returned and averaged 21.0 points and 8.5 assists in victories over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
He said he might need offseason surgery, “but hopefully not.”
Nets interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, who said Thursday that Williams isn’t going to be 100 percent the rest of the season, said the team will be monitoring its point guard’s minutes closely and resting him more before the postseason.
The 28-year-old’s numbers have been down across the board. He is averaging 16.9 points and 7.6 assists on 41.5 percent shooting. He has attempted just one dunk this season — a miss — because he has no explosion due to his ankle injuries.
“It’s been tough. It’s been a struggle,” Williams said.
Williams is in the first year of a five-year, $98 million contract signed during the offseason.
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